About Us

Prue Long

Founder & Senior Behaviour Trainer, Take the Lead (VIC)

Prue Long is the founder and senior behaviour trainer at Take the Lead (VIC). With over 18 years of experience in veterinary nursing and animal behaviour, Prue is passionate about helping pets and their guardians build strong, positive relationships through compassionate, science-based training.

Her professional journey was shaped by personal experiences that deepened her empathy and commitment to animal welfare. In 2006, after her beloved dog Ruby suffered a serious accident, Prue was inspired to pursue a career in animal care. She completed her Certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing, earning the AIRC Victorian Student of the Year award in 2010.

Later, her second dog, Charli, presented complex behavioural challenges that further sparked Prue’s interest in companion animal behaviour. Determined to better understand and support dogs like Charli, Prue dedicated herself to further study, becoming a certified professional animal behaviour trainer.

In 2019, Prue established Take the Lead (VIC) to meet the growing demand for in-home behaviour consultations, pet guardian education, group training programs, and psychiatric assistance dog training. Since then, she has worked with countless families to create harmony between pets and their guardians.

Expertise you Can Trust

Personalised Approach

Veterinary Collaboration

Compassionate Care

Prue’s Approach

Prue is committed to the exclusive use of force-free, fear-free, and positive reinforcement techniques, grounded in scientific, evidence-based research. Her approach prioritises the emotional wellbeing of every animal, focusing on building trust, confidence, and a sense of safety.

Prue approaches every pet as an individual. She works closely with guardians to create tailored behaviour plans that meet the unique needs of both the pet and their family. Her goal is to foster lasting behavioural change, strengthen the bond between pets and their guardians, and promote lifelong wellbeing.

Prue’s areas of expertise include:

Fear, anxiety, and aggression
Reactivity, arousal, and frustration behaviours
Separation-related behaviours
Chase behaviours
Psychiatric assistance dog training
Pets in family environments (babies, children, and multi-pet households)
Cooperative care for veterinary visits, grooming, and general handling

Collaboration is central to Prue’s philosophy. She works closely with veterinarians, veterinary behaviourists, specialists, and other trusted professionals to ensure the best possible outcomes for every animal and their guardian. By working as a team, Prue helps create a supportive network focused on the health, happiness, and harmony of both pets and their families.

How Prue Can Help

Whether you’re navigating behavioural challenges, training difficulties, training a psychiatric assistance dog, or looking to strengthen the bond with your pet, Prue is here to guide and support you.

With empathy, expertise, and a collaborative approach, she’ll work alongside you to create lasting harmony and happiness—at both ends of the lead.